"Lie" Thought

The "Lie Zi" is the fake book that was written in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, not the school of Lie Zi works in the pre Qin period, mainly to the Taoist text was compiled on the Qin and Han Dynasties and integration of previous literature material. Its content retains and reflects the philosophy thoughts come down in one continuous line with the Taoist school. This article from the "Lie Zi" of the text materials, referenced "Lao Zi","Chuang-Tzu""Huainan Zi" and other related materials, combined with the social background of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, tries to analyze and discuss the theory of Tao, political thought, philosophy, ideological content.The full text is divided into five parts. The first part is to study mainly in the form of "Lie Zi" research on authenticity, summarized "Lie Zi" book review of past dynasties existed, especially a demonstration of "Dubiously Authenticated Theory" and its justification since modern times. The authenticity of "Lie Zi" argument is the mainstream of the research since modern times, but also the authenticity debate has become the obstacle of the thought study. It pays less attention on the ideological contents research, mainly about philosophical ideas philosophy of life, as well as the thought on the passage of Yang-zhu.The second part mainly explains the philosophy thoughts of "Lie Zi". It proposes that the onto-cosmology is Tao named "bu sheng bu hua", which is the ultimate cause of the universe and the power of the universe generated, and also emphasizes the important position of gas in its formation. On the basis of absorbing Lao zi "empty" thought, it pointed out "value on Nihilism" and criticized Confucianism as the representative of the feudal ethical code. In addition,"Lie Zi" also mentioned the understanding of time and space, and took its attitude of the agnostic. The third part, it mainly elaborates the specific political measures under the guidance of the Taoist "governing by non-interference" political core ideas."Lie Zi" described the ideal society without no hierarchy pecking and lust combined with the author social background. In the specific content of ruling the country, it pointed out that monarch and minister played an important part in governing the country, and monarch within their own requirements kept its ways and loved the body. Good monarch should widely use all aspects of people in order to enable those who have the ability to have a proper position, so to achieve good governance results. The fourth part mainly elaborates the life Philosophy of "Lie Zi", including valuing of life; satisfy with fate and conception of death. The passage on Yang-zhu reflected a conception of valuing life and loving body, it fiercely criticized Confucianism as the representative of the feudal ethical code. It was against fame and profit, and required to satisfy with the demand of the interior and the exterior of its spiritual and material in the short life. This reflects a kind of practical value. The passage on Li-ming referred the point that who can obey the arrangement of fate, who can be happy forever. It emphasized the fate as a decisive role of life, which has a tendency to fatalism. Besides, in "Lie Zi" opinion, it is a natural process for life and death and the change happened spontaneously between life and death which is not determined by the external force. So it put forward the attitude of appreciating life and happy death. The last part mainly summarizes the previous parts, points out some ideas of natural science in "Lie Zi" book, and states the value of its thought, influence and significance.